We just watched the season’s last episode of Sopranos last night, accompanied by a pan of baked ziti that would have had Father Phil rushing over to share it with us, had he but known. Thankfully there’s another short season to come, especially since I’m still in mourning for SFU — so to speak.

Oh, and have you ever seen the Showtime series Weeds? They’ve only done one season so far (season 2 is due in August). I don’t know if season 1 is out on DVD yet, but I have a feeling you’d get a big kick out of it.

If only I had a microwave…I’d be living on popcorn this week! So I have to make due with homemade Peppermint Brownies that I made a few days ago (why do day-old brownies always taste better? especially for breakfast..!) Once I get through this stack, I’m going cold-Turkey (try explaining that expression to someone French) since being holed-up in my apartment while spring is happening outside is a tough compromise.

Have not started Nip/Tuck yet. Like Luisa, I’m still getting over Six Feet Under. Unlike the disappointing ending to Sex and the City (when Carrie turned out to be a major loser) Six Feet Under was really incredible and nothing I’ve seen had that kind of impact or deeply-probed subjects like grief and loss.

Still, at times I wondered, “Do people really have that much sex…all the time?” Maybe they do, especially if they’re not glued to their TV sets, chain-watching DVDs.

John

June 6, 2006 11:42am

David – when you have a moment – please may I have your recipe for baked nectarines and cherries? (as deliciously seen on your flickr page). Meanwhile – keep the thighs moving while watching TV to avoid DVT (deep vein thrombosis)!

FYI, re: Nip/Tuck – some people think the show sort of jumped the shark sometime during season 2. Most people I know who love the show thought season 1 was absolutely brilliant but that it got unnecessarily weird and a bit silly during season 2 – and even more so in season 3. I thought season 2 was still fun (and have yet to see 3), so who knows. And I should say that season 1 is so good that my straight guy friends openly admit to being in love with Drs. Troy and McNamara. Or, as they themselves put it, “That show inspires some serious man-love.”

Hi David, I still have to catch the rest of sex in the city I haven’t even graduated to the Sopranos yet!Life of a Chef!

Would you happen to know where to get a copy of Hidemi Suginos book “le gout authentique retrouve” in English, if not is it worth just keeping for the hell of it in Japanese?

J. Bo

June 7, 2006 4:00am

David… FORGET THE MICROWAVE FOR POPCORN!

Just about the only truly wonderful thing my father taught me is the stovetop method of popcorn.

NOW… IGNORE the instructions given on virtually every package– DO NOT heat the oil before adding the corn. HEAT THE OIL (preferably corn oil, with a touch of butter if you want, but it’s not necessary) WITH THE CORN. Do this at high heat, swirling the pan.

NOW, as soon as the corn starts popping, cock the lid in order to release some of the steam, but keep shaking the pan on the burner– if you have an electric stove, turn the burner off; if you have a gas stove, lift the pan off the burner and shake it, lowering it for a moment or two until the popping slows significantly.

You will have few/virtually NO unpopped kernels, and the resulting popcorn will be fluffy and fabulous. It just takes some care and attention.

Aaaah, Nip-Tuck, that’s an awsome show! I love that series and Six Feet Under/Sopranos are also awsome!!!

Have lots of fun watching them!

J. Bo

June 7, 2006 6:33am

Screw the microwave– REAL popcorn is made on the stovetop:

Trust me on this (it’s the one good thing I ever got from my no-account daddy):

Heat your oil (I use 2/3 corn oil and 1/3 butter) in a deep pan WITH the popcorn– enough corn to cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer, NO MORE.

I DON’T CARE WHAT ORVILLE AND/OR JIFFYPOP MIGHT SAY– heating the oil and corn together is THE secret. Trust me. I wouldn’t lie to you.

Keep the lid on fairly tight on HIGH HEAT until the corn starts popping– then cock the lid in order to release the steam. SHAKE THE PAN CONSTANTLY, and turn the heat down to low if you’ve got a gas burner, or off completely if it’s electric. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE.

Better to have some unpopped kernels than burned bits, so as soon as you think the popping is slowing down, toss the contents of the pan into a big bowl and salt with finely ground sea salt.

Dear David, If you still have a chance, take my advice and DO NOT watch Nip/Tuck! Seriously, once you get started, there is no way back – it is the most addictive show out there, incredible acting, complex characters and constantly twisting story lines! Oliver usually doesn’t watch TV series, but this one convinced him in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, German TV spoiled the whole Nip/Tuck experience, when they interrupted season 2 on short notice, so people have to revert back to watching the DVDs. And they do. We borrowed our DVD sets to friends from our ‘cinema gang’ and haven’t received them back for ages. Not that we would mind, we understand! :) Everybody who is watching gets so excited about it, so that somebody else is always waiting in line to have them next…

I’ve seen some episodes of Nip/Tuck here in France, but they show them at various times, and I like the immediate gratification of DVD’s. Can’t wait to start watching them. My friend brought a BIG stack of DVD’s back from the US and although it’s perhaps preferable to wait until the winter, when no one wants to go outdoors, I may not be able to wait that long. Nip/Tuck is now been moved to the top of the pile!

(J.Bo: Thanks for the popcorn tips. The stuff here is rather stale and doesn’t pop all that well. Next time I head back to the US, I’m smuggling in a few jars of Orville. And PS, I do like to make popcorn in the microwave but never buy the stuff with all the crap on it. I’ll try your version next time, with Orville on my team.)

Six Feet Under is just the best thing since sliced bread. The most complex, flawed and intresting characters I have ever seen on TV. I dreaded it finishing, but the final episode was just so wonderful that it made up for the loss of the show. Phenomenal.